Welcome aboard!

Forward Matheson Iacopelli has inked a two-year deal with the #Blackhawks that starts next season and runs through 2018-19. pic.twitter.com/LUnXo7znJa

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) March 28, 2017

Just so I'm clear here...

About a week ago, everyone was checking NHL.com after every game to see where Panarin stood with G, A, and P to see if he would get his bonuses. I didn't hear anything about his compete level or defensive liabilities then. Now after the Hawks look like hot garbage for the better portion of two games, he is slacking and people bring up the "Russian thing".

Panarin has NEVER been lauded for his defensive game. He also made the same bad turnovers last year (anyone else vividly remember Bergeron picking his pocket immediately leading to a score?). Its a couple of bad games... for the entire team. They are in first place in the conference. Invest in Vicodin and enjoy the playoffs. These last few reg season games are Q's playground for mixing and matching. Let it go...
- Chunk

Yep!

There is a reason why the 72-15-88 was NOT the best line in hockey last season or this season. They score well, but they are poor defensively. The numbers show it and it is no surprise given who is on the ice. Q often puts the more offensive Dmen out with that line too.

Welcome aboard!

Forward Matheson Iacopelli has inked a two-year deal with the #Blackhawks that starts next season and runs through 2018-19. pic.twitter.com/LUnXo7znJa

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) March 28, 2017

- DarthKane

This kid is playing better this year than last, so maybe there is something there in the next year or two. Hawks definitely have a lot of young forwards in the mix for next year.

What is all this nonsense about mental toughness and the Hawks aren't as good as we thought? Hawks need what 3 more wins out of 6 to clinch the division and the conference? And they are playing a team desperately trying to get a wild card spot. This team has been known to take its foot of the gas for the last 4-5 years and conserve themselves for when it counts. I'm not at all worried.

Yep!

There is a reason why the 72-15-88 was NOT the best line in hockey last season or this season. They score well, but they are poor defensively. The numbers show it and it is no surprise given who is on the ice. Q often puts the more offensive Dmen out with that line too.
- breadbag

It's the exact opposite argument with Kruger. I think the best he's ever done was about 30-35 pts. He serves a purpose. Granted, he has not played as well this year as he has in the past, but he is there strictly for defense. I won't get into the pay and salary cap argument, because I agree he is likely paid too much for us to keep in our cap situation. But you cannot deny what he HAS provided this team.

Too bad I'm on the west coast now. It's hard to justify a beverage this early...

This team has had a rough couple nights. I think they deserve the benefit of the doubt, but some stars have to align for a deep playoff run. Some thoughts:

Hossa needs to be on a line where he can generate some quality scoring chances. When he's not, he's a 3rd line checking winger. Might be wasted slotted in with Kruger.

I think Schmaltz has regressed a bit in the last couple weeks. He's a rookie, so I lean towards going easy on him, part of the 82 game learning curve. But when Schmaltz was on, he helped set Toews on fire. When Schmaltz is on, puck on his stick and playing with confidence, Hawks are a much more dangerous team. I hope he finds his game again.

Special teams is bad. But we all know that.

Panarin has definitely been floating, but both him and Kane look marginalized in the offensive zone without Anisimov. He makes so much room for them. Him being out also exposes Kane and Panarin's D efficiencies, which are abundant. Save us, Artem.

And my biggest bugaboo from last night, our defensive corps looks very old and very slow. Pucks are getting flipped up the boards, over the glass, or directly to the other team because the only defenseman that can break the puck with his feet in any capacity is Keith. Seabrook, Campbell, Oduya, and Hammer DO NOT look quick. They do not look crafty. They do not look like they have the escapability to thwart and big and fast forecheck (and guess what they are going to see all postseason?). Turning defense into offense has been Chicago's money maker for years, quick transition hockey. It's not there any more.

So yeah, get used to the image of our defenseman getting overwhelmed with speed and physicality, causing spastic clearing attempts and botched breakouts. It's not a good look on us, but it's ours.
- Fat_Tony_Amonte

Schmaltz had 2 helpers last night.

It's the exact opposite argument with Kruger. I think the best he's ever done was about 30-35 pts. He serves a purpose. Granted, he has not played as well this year as he has in the past, but he is there strictly for defense. I won't get into the pay and salary cap argument, because I agree he is likely paid too much for us to keep in our cap situation. But you cannot deny what he HAS provided this team.

Too bad I'm on the west coast now. It's hard to justify a beverage this early...
- Chunk

Kruger, I think was paid to play his defense first game, win draws and add like 20 points.

I think he has underachieved slightly (A lot probably due to injury), but the Hawks would keep him around if they can find the cap space. They do need someone to play that role.

Schmaltz had 2 helpers last night.
- JRoenick97

I think they will keep him with Toews and Panik. He is a catalyst for those guys by passing the puck.

I sort of thought I was the only one on here who has been irritated BIGLY by Panarin's play for most of the season. Glad somebody has joined me..
- RickJ

I was sitting in a pretty good seat vanatge point to see many of Panarin's pitfalls last night. Panarin tried to play a big man muscle game and obviously held possession too long.
If this team to a fault has an issue, it is that is very pridefull and full of players who don't want to lose despite the division lead and possibly because of the Sunrise FL egg on Saturday.

The on thing that was clear is the team drives possession and part of it id the big players moving passing weaving to disrupt enemy coverage to get some nice chances. I won't comment on the close calls they didn't score on, but by the end at OT, I think there was some fatique showing.

3 things i think:
Hayden may get a rest now...sure he big bodied a few times but he was woefully free styling and bunched up with teammates and not slipping to the open spots, and it might have been enough to get him long video room time and maybe a view from the pressbox to "visualize" it better. (No long term judgement yet.)
and the goal that broke the hawks back was one where chicken fat (Schmaltz tranlates to that in yiddish, I am told) simply wasn't where he should be and left the right attacking side open for easy Lightning pickin's. Johnny oduya didn't look steller there either.

I don't think we get crazy about where the team is temperature wise, right now...it is what its and and the style they play isn't going to be altered so sit back, for the ride, guys, and try and enjoy.

I think they will keep him with Toews and Panik. He is a catalyst for those guys by passing the puck.
- breadbag

I think the top 2 lines (when healthy) will be 8/19/14 and 72/15/88 when the playoffs start.

I think Hartman and Hossa will be on the 3rd line, but there's still a question on who will centre them.

New blog up.

I love this blog! Hawks have the best record in the West, tied for the 2nd best record overall (4th with the tiebreaker) and the talk of people being done with the team is, in my eyes, crazy. Yeah they haven't been playing the best hockey right now, and you know what...they have actually gained space on the Wild, now 8 points ahead with 6 games to go, 7 for the Wild. I honestly do not know what make some of us happy.

All teams go through ups and downs during the season. The Hawks will be fine come the playoffs as the West's top seed. They have more points then the 2015 Stanley Cup winning team.

I would love to read back after the cup clinching games and see how many people were upset because it took the team's 6 games to win where a good team should have sweep the series.

Look on the bright side, we are not Arizona or Colorado.